But then again, I need all the days, stolen, blessed, rewarded, schemed...I need all the days I get out there.

I was my first step into the new winter cold season and the cold has eternally been a war I'll always lose, and yet I battle every single time, as if one day, ONE DAY, I will not be hindered by the cold that continues to cripple me at every opportunity.

After all, I am a delicate petal.

On this stolen day, I learned that it's not always about the layers I choose to pack, or the warm weather gear I'm hauling to the base of the climb. Sometimes, these battles can be won simply by choosing the right territory...

And so, I found myself basking in the sun, high by the side of a mountain, with pleasurable views all around...

And yeah, I double checked...it WAS that hot as we all got gently toasted to a golden brown.

Oh man, the rock was warm under the hand, solid under the feet, lumpy in all the right ways, blocky and solid whenever I needed it to be.

The leading looked steep!

Guess he felt like he had to step high...bout time Tall Guy!! It's good for the Tall Folk to feel spread out every now and again to remember what the short peeps are feeling.

Well, now it's my turn to climb...but why is my belayer tied in?!?

Sheesh, belayers these days...heh!

Tea time and he's fiddling fussing and fiddling...hey dude, can I get the rope now?

All good, got my climb in, and good thing I'm not a climber, cause if I was, I'd be ashamed at the amount of thrashing that went on...like a fish on the end of a line...ha!

The day is winding down, and once again, we're all stopping to watch the occasional butterfly.

Being young to this vertical hiking thing, there is little I enjoy more than seeing long term partners together, and today, the views kept that silly smile on my face.

Nice! Where is that? Looks mighty close to The Grotto area, but I haven't seen that low-angle globby stuff (only the 5.12 overhanging stuff with similar formations above the basalt columns in the grotto).

No. You don't understand. This is November, and to truly by part of "the vertical hiking thing" you must suffer. And no, being pissed because your belayer is not paying attention because he's dozing off in the sunshine is not suffering.

Sorry kid, but if it's November, and you want to call yourself a real climber, your story has to include trenchfoot, hypothermia, loss of fingers and toes, and at least one death.